Detail Design and Construction (DD&C) of the John Lewis (T-AO 205) Class Fleet Oiler Replacement Ships

Introduction: This notice is issued by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) for the purpose of market research to support an expected issuance of a solicitation in the fall of 2023 for the detail design and construction (DD&C) of the John Lewis (T-AO 205) Class Fleet Oiler Replacement Ships, utilizing competition. The T-AO program is managed by the Program Executive Office Ships (PEO Ships) Auxiliary and Special Mission Shipbuilding Program Office, PMS 325. The John Lewis Class T-AOs replaces the legacy T-AO 187 Class Fleet Replenishment Oilers as well as the Fast Combat Support Ships. The John Lewis Class T-AOs carry jet fuel, diesel fuel and lubricating oil, small quantities of fresh and frozen provisions, stores, potable water and more. The T-AOs will be operated by the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command and provide underway replenishment of fuel and stores to U.S. Navy ships at sea and jet fuel for aircraft assigned to aircraft carriers. The solicitation will contemplate the DD&C of up to eight (8) John Lewis (T-AO 205) Class Fleet Oiler Replacement ships (T-AO 214 through T-AO 221), and related support requirements, including provisions for the procurement of onboard spares and repair parts, major shore based spares, engineering and industrial support, special studies, emergent material and support, and technical manuals. All technical requirements, including the T-AO System Specification and other Government Furnished Information, will be contained within the contemplated solicitation. The T-AO ships must be constructed in a United States shipyard. Draft Solicitation and Industry Day: Prior to the issuance of a formal solicitation for this procurement, NAVSEA intends to release a draft copy of the T-AO DD&C solicitation and associated attachments for industry review and feedback. The procedures to receive a copy of the draft solicitation and associated attachments, which is controlled, is provided in the below section. Additionally, PEO SHIPS and PMS 325 intends to host an industry day event to present the Navy's draft requirements and provide an overview of all elements of the solicitation. The details and procedures to register for the intended industry day will be provided as an update to this notice if and when available. Access to Controlled Solicitation Materials: Interested firms must complete and submit the provided Terms of Use Agreement (TOUA) to the Government points of contact identified in this notice. The TOUA must be signed by an authorized representative of the prospective offeror and returned to the Government points of contact identified in this notice. Upon receipt of a duly executed TOUA, the Contracting Officer and/or Contract Specialist may provide via secured electronic manner (DOD SAFE) any UNCLASSIFIED aspects of the draft T-AO DD&C solicitation and associated attachments to the potential offeror, if and when they become available, for industry review and feedback. Industry review and feedback of the draft T-AO DD&C solicitation and associated attachments, if and when they become available, is requested no later than 5:00 pm (EST) on 9 August 2023. Pursuant to DFARS 252.204-7008(c)(1), prospective offerors are advised that proper safeguarding of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) is considered a special standard of responsibility for this notice and, if and when they become available, the draft T-AO DD&C solicitation and associated attachments. See FAR subpart 9.1. Failure to properly safeguard and mark CUI in accordance with applicable regulation and policy (to include Executive Order 13556, the Defense Acquisition Regulations Supplement and DoD Instruction 5200.48) may preclude the Contracting Officer from being able to provide the required affirmative determination of responsibility. If the Contracting Officer is unable to affirmatively determine the prospective Offeror to be responsible, the prospective Offeror will be ineligible for award of any contract that may result from this notice. Additional Information: Interested firms should monitor www.sam.gov for information regarding the release of a draft or formal T-AO DD&C solicitation, industry day, or other updates related to this procurement. Inquiries or questions concerning this announcement may be submitted to the points of contact identified in this notice. The Government cannot commit to providing a response to every submission received. NOTE: This notice is for market research purposes only and does NOT constitute a request for proposal. This notice shall not be construed as a contract, a promise to contract, or as a commitment of any kind by the Government. The Government is NOT seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals. This notice is issued by the Department of the Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Program Executive Office Ships (PEO Ships), and the Auxiliary and Special Mission Shipbuilding Program Office (PMS 325) for the purpose of conducting market research in accordance with FAR Part 10 to determine if sources exist that are capable of satisfying the Navy's anticipated program requirement the DD&C of the John Lewis (T-AO 205) Class Fleet Oiler Replacement Ships. Respondents are advised that CACI International Inc. and Serco Inc. may assist the Government in its review of any responses received under this notice. Respondents shall include a cover page notifying the Government if the respondent does not consent to the use of the aforementioned contractor(s). Unless otherwise stated by the respondent, a submission received to this notice constitutes consent that the abovementioned contractors can have access to all information provided in the respondent's submission. This notice is not a request for proposals and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. Sources choosing to respond to this notice are wholly responsible for any costs/expenses associated with submitting a response. Therefore, any cost associated with the market survey submission is solely at the interested vendor's expense. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this notice. The information obtained from submitted responses may be used in development of an acquisition strategy and a future solicitation. Submissions will not be returned. No reimbursement will be made for any costs to provide information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests. Information contained herein is based on the best information available at the time of publication, is subject to revision, and is not binding upon the Government.